Rail-joint support and fastening.



MCLEOD THOMSON. RAH. JOINT SUPPORT AND FASTENING. APPLICATION FILED FEB. I9. I9Ia.

PatentedJune 12, 191?.

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McLEOD TH RAIL JOINT SUPPORT AND FASTENING.

APPLICATION FILED mw w PatentedJune12, 1917..

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Ms D THOMSON. RAIL JOIN PORT AND FASTENING.

FILED FEB. 19 1'9:

1,22967% I Patented June 12, 191?.

' 3 EEEEEEEEEEEE 3- para snares arena union MGLEOD THOMSON, OF ATLANTIC CITY, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR TO THE RAIL JOINT COMPANY, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

RAIL-JOINT SUPPORT AND FASTENING.

Application filed February 19, 1916.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, MOLEOD THOMSON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Atlantic City, county of Atlantic, and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Rail-Joint Supports and F astenings, of which the follow:- ing is a specification.

This invention relates to rail joints, and has particular reference to a novel and improved rail joint support and fastening that is capable of preventing the longitudinal creeping of the rails.

To this end, the invention contemplates a combined joint support and fastening including a relatively long base member adapted to extend over and beyond the usual joint ties to adjacent ties, thus placing more than the ordinary number of ties in a rigidly connected assembly to provide a more effectual anchoring unit, while at the same time offering an extended bearing surface over which the load may be more evenly and uniformly distributed. This feature of the invention is of special importance in preventing the longitudinal creeping of the rails. In all railroad track there is a tendency under certain conditions of traflic, for the rails to run or creep longitudinally, usually in the direction of traffic. This creeping is resisted only by the friction of the rails on the ties and by means .of spiking the joint plates, through slots therein, to the ties, the spikes and the joint-bolts working together to hold the rails .in proper position on the ties. This creeping force .is often sufficient, when the joint structure is fastened to only two or three ties, .to drag the joint ties out of position in the direction .of the creeping of the rails, thus disturbingthe road-bed and giving the joint an unstable support.

Accordingly, the present invention primarily has in view a construction which provides for maintaining the track ties ad acent the joint tiesofthe rails atfixed spaced intervals and properly embedded in the :road

ballast, therebyv affording an extended xanchorage which-cannot be obtained with ,a joint that only spans two'ties, whileat the same time rigidlyinterlocking .with the joint bars of the joint.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented- June 1L2, 191? Serial No. 79,258.

Another object of the invention is to provide a rail joint support and fastening of the character referred to which includes a long base member that is not only capable of being placed in interlocking engagement with one of the joint bars of the rail joint proper to prevent longitudinal creeping of the rails, but which at the same time rigidly braces the bars from the ties through the base support. This feature of the invention is important in a practical aspect, since it permits of the use of any standard type of joint bar, thus giving the invention a wide range of application, including its use in connection with joint bars now in service to obtain the beneficial effects of a longer joint bearing on the ties.

With the above and other objects in view which will more readily appear as the nature of the invention is better understood, the same consists in the novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter more fully described, illustrated and claimed.

A preferred and practical embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a perspective view showing the application of the invention.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the rails and joint parts shown in Fig. 1 resting upon a plurality of ties,

Fig. '3 is a plan view of the relatively long base member.

. Fig. i is a vertical cross sectional view at the center ,of the joint.

Fig. 5 is a vertical cross sectional view similar :to Fig. 4 showing a modification of the invention.

Fig. 6 is a plan view of the separate base members employed in the modification shown in Fig-5.

Similar reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout the several figures of the drawings.

A novel and distinctive feature of the present invention resides in the provision of a rail joint support and fastening including a relatively longbase member adapted are rigidly spaced and connected, and, to-

gether, form a rail joint anchorage of more than the ordinary extent. Accordingly, the present invention aims to insure a firm and rigid road ballast engagement for the ties, whereby the longitudinal creeping of the rails will be more effectively obviated.

In carrying out the invention, the same may be associated with any conventional type of rail joint. Accordingly, for purposes of illustration, the joint shown in the drawings is of the simple angle bar type consisting of the oppositely arranged angle bars 1 and 2, the rails R and R, and the usual joint bolts 3. The foot flanges of the angle bars overlie the base flanges of the rails, and the foot flange of one of the angle bars 4 directly cooperates with the long base memher in the manner to be presently explained.

That is to say, in carrying the novel features of the invention into effect, it is preferred to employ a relatively long rail supporting base member 4 adapted to rest upon a plurality of ties T as shown in Fig. 2, and which base member is provided at suitable points with the spiking notches and holes 5 and 6 respectively. This base member 1 constitutes a base support for the rails R and R at their meeting ends, and materially augments the rigid connection thereof provided by the joint bars 1 and 2.

Referring further to the novel features of the base member, it will be seen that the same includes an upwardly projecting and inturned holding flange element 7 disposed longitudinally thereof adjacent one side edge, and preferably formed integral therewith as shown. This arrangement of the holding flange on the base member locates the same at one side of the joint when in use,

and in order to permit of the same interlocking with one of the joint bars, the intermediate portion thereof is cut away to provide a joint bar recess 8. The formation of this recess provides rigid oppositely disposed terminal extensions or sections, each presenting a rigid abutment shoulder 9 at their inner ends which constitutes means for posi tively engaging the opposite ends of the foot flange of one of the joint bars. Since the base member 4 is to be rigidly spiked to the ties T, and the joint bars rigidly connected to the rails, the latter will be prevented from creeping longitudinally in either direction through the engagement of the ends of the foot flange of the joint bars with the abutment shoulder 9 of the holding flange.

Another feature of practical importance in the present invention is the provision of a rail supporting base which is capable of be ing used for standard types of joint bars already in use. In this connection, it is proposed to make the recess 8 of such a length as will correspond to the standard length of joint bars, so that when the device is placed in service, the abutment shoulders 9 will accurately register with the ends of the foot flange of the bar. Further, in this connection, it is important to note that the relatively long base member becomes interlocked with the joint in such a manner that it is possible to slide the base member 4 beneath the bases of rails now in service while they are still connected by the joint bars, by merely loosening the track spikes at each side of the joint whereby the rails may be jacked up or otherwise raised a suflicient distance to permit the insertion of the base member therebeneath.

The foregoing novel features of the invention may be also carried out in modified structures, such for instance, as in the modificati on shown in Figs. 5 and 6 of the drawings. According to this modification, the relatively long rail supporting base comprises two base members 4: 4: one for each side of the joint. That is to say, as will be observed from Figs. .5 and 6, it is proposed according to this embodiment of the invention to employ separate base members, each of which is approximately one-half the width of the rail base, and is provided with the spiking notches or holes 5 and with an upwardly projecting and inturned holding flange element 7 adjacent one side edge thereof, the central portion of which flange is cut away to provide the joint bar receiving recess 8 Thus, each base member is a duplicate of the other, and when in use, each engages with a joint bar at one side of the joint thereby effectually anchoring the entire joint and providing in effect a continuous type of joint with the beneficial advantages of a long base plate for engaging ties beyond the joint ties to assist in preventing the longitudinal creeping of the rails.

Without further description, it is thought that the many features and advantages of the present invention will be readily apparent, and it will of course be understood that various changes in the form, proportion, and minor details of construction may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention or scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A11 anticreeper construction for rails including, in combination with the rails, the track ties and the joint bars fastened to the rails, a rail supporting and fastening base of greater length than the joint bars and projecting beyond the ends of the latter and engaging the ties next beyond the joint ties, said base being provided at one side edge only with upstanding holding abutments engaging the ends of one joint bar.

2. An anticreeper construction for rails including, in combination with the track ties, the rails and the joint bars fastened to ing an abutting engagement with the ends of the rails of separate base members of a one joint bar. greater length than'the joint bars and pro- In testimony whereof I hereunto aHiX my jeoting beyond the latter to engage the ties signature in the presence of two Witnesses. next beyond the joint ties, each of said base MGLEOD THOMSON. members being provided at one side edge Witnesses:

portion only with upstanding flange ele- ROYAL W. URIE,

ments engaging over the rail flange and hav- I. D. DITTMAN.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G. 

